A Tribute to Escher

This is a fun little look at some things inspired by the work of M.C. Escher.

Now that Leap Day Is Over …

What are your plans for the leap second coming later this year? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out this video:

(HT: Rob Martin)

Pretty Sure I’ve Heard This Presentation

(HT: Jason Molesky)

How to Bomb the AP Stats Test

To those of us who grade AP Stats, this is hilarious. If you are not one of those, you might learn something about how not to do statistics.

Interesting Statistics from 60 Minutes

I can’t embed the videos here at this point, but here are a series of videos from recent 60 Minutes episodes that reference statistics in the news.

First, on a recent case of forged credentials and misrepresented data at Duke University.

• The main piece can be found here.
• A bit about the researcher and his overstated credentials.

Secondly, a study of the placebo effect that seems to indicate that anti-depressant medication may be nothing more than a very expensive investment in the placebo effect.

• The main piece about looking at all of the research over the years and finding a stunning lack of significance.
• The journalist reflects on the story.

As a statistician, the ability to get a drug approved if two studies show an effect and ten studies show none is ridiculous. This is not good scientifically or statistically.

A Fun Piano Guys Video

This is probably my favorite video from The Piano Guys (and I’ve watched quite a few). Enjoy!

(This one is for you, Heather Martin!)

Some Amazing Piano Playing

This is for my pianist friends, and those who appreciate beautiful playing. Love the constant views of his fingerwork!

The Ugly Truth Behind SOPA/PIPA

A more detailed look at how we got to this point with SOPA and PIPA and what the content industry wants.

On Read-Write Culture vs. Read-Only Culture

With the prevalence today of the SOPA/PIPA protests, an interesting take on copyright law and how it might need to change lest it stifle legitimate creativity!

I Think they Need to Work on their Marketing Budget

Maybe a Messiah College marketing grad could come up with some way to improve this video. Surely it wouldn’t take a huge budget to improve the current advertising!